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Albert L. Hagg, Jr.
Picture of Al Hagg
ALBERT L. HAGG, JR., born June 9, 1924 in Dallas, Texas.
After graduating from high school, Al enlisted as an aviation cadet in 1942; assigned Class 43K for Pre-Flight Training Santa Ana, California; primary flight training Rankin Field, Tulare, California, soloing in Boeing's PT-17 's; Basic Flight Training in BT-15's at Lemoore Field, California; Advanced Flight Training in AT-6's at Luke Field, Phoenix, Arizona; graduation and commissioned in January, 1944.
R.T.U. was at Hardin Field, Baton Rouge, Louisiana in the Republic P-47.
Combat assignment to European Theater with the Ninth Air Force in England to the 412th Fighter Squadron, 373rd Fighter Group in May, 1944:, just in time for the invasion of the Continent.
Al flew his first mission on D-Day, June 6, while only 19 years old, and for about six months was the youngest pilot in his group.
From then until the end of the war in Europe he flew 72 missions in the "Jug".
He worked one month with Operations at Tactical Headquarters and another month as Forward Air Controller in a Sherman Tank with the 8th Armored Division.
He is credited with one and one-half enemy aircraft destroyed in the Air.
He was awarded six Battle Stars on his European Theater Badge, with Presidential Unit Citation, a Belgian Fouragere, an Air Medal with 12 Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
At the end of the war in Europe, the 373rd Group was to return to the states for a leave then reassignment to the Pacific, but the war terminated while Al was on leave and a short time later he was discharged.
Al has been a pilot with American Airlines for 26 years.
He qualified on the Convair 240, DC-6, DC-7, Lockheed Electra, Boeing 727 and now flies the Boeing 707.